Barge Date:  07-19-2018

Working the Locks

I have this fancy video system on the barge for several reasons.  I am hoping it makes me better at doing some things because it give me views that I can not have just looking out of the wheelhouse windows. It gives me a chance to review moves I have made or to see things that happen fast, like the little dog falling into a lock.  And it might be a deterrent to those that might want to jump on the boat at night or while we are away.  I will need to add one more camera next year to do the security correctly.

But here is something else I can do.  Below are two videos that will show you how I handle the barge and work a lock.  Each clip has been processed to show fast motion.  You don't want to take 10 minutes or so to watch in real time.  The process is slow but "things" can happen quickly if one does not pay attention.

The first video shows the barge entering a lock low and what is done and what happens as the process continues to where we are high in the lock.Whether we are coming in high or low, the best way to enter is with some speed.  The rudder works much better if the prop is passing water to and around the rudder. Quick adjustments can be made if the prop is turning; if not turning, you can still change the orientation of the barge but you must make more turns at the helm and it takes longer.  So come in with some speed and the prop turning, but not too fast as there are lock doors at the other end.   And if you are coming in high, what you see at the other end is a big drop off.  You don't want to go there.  It takes some practice and also confidence that the barge controls will work when you want them to.

Coming in low, you need to get a line on a lock bollard.  We prefer to come in and attach on the starboard side.  This is because the prop is rotating clockwise (as seen from the stern) and what I will be doing after a line is on a bollard is allow the engine to work very slowly - called tick over - driving the barge forward against the line. So the barge goes forward  but is stopped by the line then the stern will swing to the right wall and will stay there during the period the water is rising.  In this clip we are on the port side because that is where the control is for closing the lock doors and filling the chamber. But left or right, it still works, but works better on the starboard side.

You have to put the line on a lock bollard at the right distance from the bow and far end of the lock so that, as you rise, the boat does not go too far forward. The line must be strong enough to handle this stress.  Some of this can be controlled at the throttle. If there is another boat to the stern, we will put 2 lines on in such a way that the boat can not move forward or back and into the other boat.  If two lines, we will stay with them and adjust length if needed. We always prefer to be the first boat in the lock.

I think you can see in this video when the water starts to enter the lock.  This can sometimes be gentle or it can be a big rush and toss you about.  We will want to be pushing tight on the line as this happens.  But after the first rush, a current develops in the lock that tends to hold the boat without the use of the line.  When possible, I will turn off the engine and ride it out.

Leaving a lock is handled at about the same speed as the entry.  Too little speed or without the prop turning tends to lead to some bumping going out.

The second video will show how we handle the boat when we are being dropped in the lock. Whether up or down, both can have dangerous "things" happening.  Going down is generally seen as being more of a problem normally due to inattention.

Again, we come in with some speed and with the prop turning.  Will want to be eyeing the lock bollards for the right one to work but will also be looking at the edge of the lock wall near the bollard we will use. Ideally, you want a smooth edge.  The line will be moving over this edge and you want to prevent it from getting caught in a crack or some rough spot.

Here is what happens if you don't pay attention. As in going up, you want to control the barge in the lock.  The line is attached to a bollard on the boat and is looped around the lock bollard (there are, in fact, several methods but this one demonstrates the potential for problems).  As you go down you are letting out line from the loose end of the rope.  It would be better if we had two bollards at the middle so we could keep the lines separate. The line has to be smooth as you release more.  Water goes out of the lock at the bottom of the doors on the down river end.  This is normally gentle but each lock is different. Should your line get locked in a crack on the edge of the wall or at the single boat bollard, you will not be able to release more line and the boat will begin to hang from the line. And this is not good.

We have learned that with a drop less than 4 meters we will put the rope lope on the lock bollard with the loose end around the single bollard at the middle of the barge. Much safer as the only point of rope problem is right at boat bollard with is right at your feet.  We have learned to flip off the rope this distance and it is some what of a challenge to see if you can do it on the first attempt.

It has never happened to me but it does happen on a regular basis. The remedy is to cut the line.  We have small hack saws on the boat near where we work the lines and it does not take much effort to cut the line because now it is very taut.  A couple of cuts and it will break and the boat will drop.

When going down you can not walk away from your line. You stay with it, watch how it is moving.  Prevent the line from catching on the wall or at the boat bollard.

Once the barge has reached the top or bottom, the doors will open and you leave.

At larger locks there will be an operator and they will monitor what is done and there may be different ways to secure your boat.  With some of the locks on France's older canals, you use a radio controlled clicker to start the lock process. Once in the lock and ready for the up or down, you must lift a rod to close the doors and start the process.

(The red color you see in the video is not correct.  I needed to adjust some setting to get a clear view of the two sides. The actual red on the boat is dark candy apple red.)